Justin Timberlake Discusses Lyme Disease Battle Amid World Tour
Justin Timberlake revealed he chose to continue his Forget Tomorrow World Tour despite being diagnosed with Lyme disease, describing the condition as ‘relentlessly debilitating.’ The singer shared his experiences with fans, emphasizing that the joy of performing outweighed his physical discomfort. He also addressed recent fan backlash for not singing during a performance at the Electric Castle festival, highlighting the challenges of balancing his health with his career.
In an Instagram post shared to celebrate the end of his tour, Timberlake opened up about his ongoing health struggles, stating, ‘As many of you know, I’m a pretty private person. But as I’m reflecting on the tour and festival tour – I want to tell you a little bit about what’s going on with me.’ He revealed that he had been diagnosed with Lyme disease, explaining that the experience of living with the disease is ‘relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically.’ Timberlake noted that he felt ‘a massive amount of nerve pain’ or ‘crazy fatigue or sickness’ during his performances, but he decided to continue touring due to the joy it brought him.
The singer’s admission comes after he was criticized by fans online for not singing during a festival performance. In one video from the Electric Castle festival in Romania, Timberlake can be seen continuously telling the audience to sing while walking around the stage and occasionally dancing. A fan’s TikTok video criticized the incident, stating, ‘When you pay for a concert but get a mute singer.’ Timberlake, however, addressed the situation, acknowledging the challenges he faced while managing his health during the tour.
Timberlake also thanked his fans and crew for supporting him throughout the tour, calling their presence and energy ‘the stuff of legend.’ He praised his crew for their dedication, saying, ‘Tour life really is like nothing else. It takes a special type of person to be able to do it – much less do it well.’ The singer’s openness about his health challenges reflects a broader discussion about the impact of Lyme disease, especially as tick season intensifies in the United States.
In his post, Timberlake emphasized the importance of transparency about his struggles, stating, ‘I was reluctant to talk about this because I was always raised to keep something like this to yourself. But I am trying to be more transparent about my struggles so that they aren’t misinterpreted.’ His decision to share his experience with Lyme disease not only highlights his personal challenges but also brings attention to the broader issue of the disease’s effects on musicians and performers in the entertainment industry.